Today’s challenge was to not only to create a painting for the 30 paintings in 30 days but to create it in 30 minutes from memory!

There is a swampy area across the road from our log cabin. One morning we decided to explore this area while walking the corgis. I noticed a foggy situation from the creek beyond. Areal perspective became an essential part of this scene.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have our cameras that day. Thank goodness I have developed my memory skills.

Try this exercise – it forces you to create a painting and not replicate a photo.Go out and study a place you would like to paint. No camera, no sketch pad, no paints just your mind. This is what I call plein air memory. Take as long as you need to capture the image.Outside, study the:

Values—visualize light and dark patterns

Colors – what would you layout in your paint tray?

In the studio:Remember this is an exercise truly in memory! This all done with your brush — no pencil. Keep your brushstrokes simple creating large patterns of value and color to create the composition and build on that.Keep your detail limitedCreate points of interest working up to your focal pointKeep it simple